Rep. Calvert Statement on the National Defense Authorization Act

Congressman Ken Calvert (CA-42) voted along with a bipartisan majority of the House of Representatives (363 to 70) to pass the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Rep. Calvert is the lead Republican on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

"The final bipartisan, bicameral agreement on the NDAA rejects the ill-advised real dollar cuts to our defense budget proposed by President Biden and progressives in Congress. The $25 billion increase included in the NDAA will maintain our critical national security investments and help the U.S. address growing threats from China, Russia, and other adversaries. Now that the defense authorization is complete, Congress should quickly consider a defense appropriations bill reflecting this increased topline spending level. Every day we delay, more tax dollars are wasted and more national security challenges remain unresolved. House Democrats have recklessly dumped money everywhere in pursuing their radical agenda except on the men and women who serve and protect us, and the safety of the American people and our allies. It's time for that to change."

NDAA Highlights

(Provided by the House Armed Services Committee Minority Staff)

Warfighter Innovation Fund

• Includes a new $100 million fund and pilot program requested by Rep. Calvert to expedite the deployment innovative technologies to the warfighter.

Servicemember Pay and Benefits

The FY22 NDAA continues Congressional support to our servicemembers and their families:

• Authorizes a 2.7% pay increase for servicemembers.
• Extends military recruitment and retention bonuses and special pay authorities.
• Provides nearly $1.5 billion to improve servicemember family housing.
• Prevents President Biden's cuts to military health program, increases funding for vaccine research, and provides $35 million for research and treatment of Havana syndrome.
• Increases parental leave, expands the in-home childcare pilot program, and improves support available to military families with special needs children.
• Requires the DoD to conduct a thorough and independent review of suicide prevention and response programs at various military installations.

Vaccine Mandates

• Discharges – The NDAA prohibits DoD from dishonorably discharging servicemembers that refuse the COVID-19 vaccine. Servicemembers may only receive an honorable discharge or a general discharge under honorable conditions. This policy will retroactively apply to the date of the DoD COVID-19 vaccine order and be in place for at least 2 years.
• Exemptions – The NDAA requires DoD to establish uniform standards under which servicemembers may be exempted from receiving the COVID-19 vaccine for administrative, medical, or religious reasons. The DoD must consider the effects of natural immunity in setting medical standards, as well as whether the servicemember is approaching retirement when setting the administrative exemption standards.